Fifty years after the signing of the Landmark Immigration and Naturalization Act, a total of 59 million people have migrated to the United States (Time, 2015). The Pew Research Center indicated that one in five immigrants in the world reside in the United States (2015 see Fig. Reference pg). With so many immigrants entering into the U.S. we encounter an enormous melting pot of culture, religion, customs, and languages. To the immigrants, it is important to preserve their culture while in the U.S. but what affect does their practices and beliefs have on the American people? Not only as Americans, but Christian American? What about the immigrants’ religious beliefs? Does it coincide with preliminary principles of America? One of America’s founding principles is best stated in the national motto, “In God We Trust.” Furthermore, the Declaration of Independence drafted by Thomas Jefferson alluded to God: “laws of nature and of nature’s God” and to the unalienable rights of men given by “their Creator.” The founding fathers of the Constitution held a monotheistic view. However, over time, monotheism has developed into polytheism. And while there is no evidence of forced polytheism, it is the popularity and subtle influence of this viewpoint that furtively disregards the first commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. In this essay, we will identify the influence of popular apparel as it subtly promotes polytheism. The purpose of this essay is to inform true believers of the subtle tactics Satan uses to deceive others to worship him.

POPULAR APPAREL
In 2002, Jeffrey Lubell, CEO distributed his brand on six continents, by which the first quarter profited 4.2 million in net income. Famous celebrities within the music, sport, and movie industry contributed to monstrous sales and certainly influenced retail sales in hoodies, T-shirts, jackets, and sweatshirts amongst the “common” folk. This brand is famous for its logo; a bald, obese man with a toga and a guitar. In big inscription, “True Religion” has been the catapult of success for Millennials and now Gen Z. So what’s the deal with True Religion? After all, it’s just a man with a toga, right? Jeffrey Lubell chose a smiling Buddha to represent his spiritual side. It is a symbol of peace, happiness, nature and good fortune (Behind Jeans, 2014). Lubell created a denim jean brand to promote “his” religion-the Buddhist religion. Although Lubell suggests that the only “true” religion is the love for jeans, one cannot ignore the connection with his personal religious beliefs of Buddhism and its influence on American apparel. As harmless as it seems, we as Bible Christians should know Satan’s devices:

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor. 2:11). This is a warning from the apostle Paul for all of us. As Bible Christians we should be aware of Satan’s devices. His only mission is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). The Lord declared in Isaiah 45:5, “I am the Lord, there is none else, there is no God beside me…” This truth is also a staple of the ten commandments; it is the most important commandment of the ten: “Thou shalt have no other gods before” (Exo. 20:3). Bible Christians should not be deceived with this brand because of this commandment from God alone. The only “true” religion that we subscribe to is God’s laws, statues, and commandments. While True Religion continue to soar in retail prices with sales recorded as $280 million and 80 million in earnings before taxes, interest, depreciation (CNBC, 2024), there’s another famous artist who’ve swept the nation with his popularity in dissemination and promotion of peculiar apparel.

Damar Hamlin, the safety from the Buffalo Bills made a miraculous comeback from experiencing cardiac arrest during the Bengals game last year on January 2. People all over the world sent heartfelt messages to him during intensive care. Commentators, news anchors, celebrities, and all the fans prayed for Damar Hamlin’s healing. After several days of waiting, the whole world was relieved after hearing of Hamlin’s remarkable recovery. During the 57 Superbowl, Damar Hamlin expressed his heartfelt thanks to all the people who’d been praying for him. Despite the warm words he channeled to his fans, the audience couldn’t help but notice Damar’s jacket: green and white leather with a bruised animated head of an alleged Jesus Christ with the writings “ Without End or Beginning There is no Day and There is no Night” (see Fig. 2 Reference pg). The back of the jacket depicted the same animation with an alleged Christ body on the cross with several garments to the left and right of the figure. Above the figure were the writing: “Eternal.” To Hamlin he thought it was art; an honor he wished to express unto God. In actuality, Christians over the world thought Hamlin to be blasphemous for wearing the apparel. Adrian Peterson, retired running back mostly known for playing on the Minnesota Vikings wrote on social media:

“You should be thanking God son!” Peterson wrote. “This is Blasphemy!! We all fall short but cmon man! I find this disrespectful!! #grateful #goddid“

Hamlin responded in a tweet,

“It was never my intentions to hurt or disrespect anyone, the coat is abstract art to me. It says Eternal which I am Eternally thankful to my Savior! My beliefs and Relationship with God is not tied to symbolic images. I will learn from this and continue to walk in Love as I ALWAYS have. Matthew 7:1-5.” (CBS Sports, 2023).

Why was this jacket so blasphemous? How could someone like Damar Hamlin who’d fought for his life be seen as an ungrateful, disrespectful young football player. As mentioned earlier, Hamlin thought his expression was art. However, the designer of this jacket and other inscrutable pieces is Takashi Murakami- a Japanese contemporary artist. Just like Lubell, his religious ideologies are depicted into his art and clothing apparel.

Murakami, has supplied design work for the famous Louis Vuitton, Kanye West, and Travis Scott. When celebrities wear these designer clothes, it influences the consumers in following trends. For example, Takashi’s Saint jacket that Damar Hamlin wore is on the market for $6,500! Murakami is also known for his smiling flower motifs including contemporary artwork blurring the lines between Japanese pop culture and more traditional Japanese art often depicting Buddhism, current social issues and disasters such as Tohoku. Murakami’s 3 meter tall “500 Arhats” depicts the Arhats as entities considered to be enlightened disciples of Buddha and the spread of its teachings: to save humanity from its worldly desires. How can Takashi hold firm beliefs in Buddha, but design so-called Christian “contemporary art” attire? Even the Bible says you cannot serve two masters. Either you will love one and hate the other (Matt. 6:24).

How could Damar Hamlin be so naïve and unaware of the deception? As Bible Christians, it is necessary for us to have our spiritual eyes open to the subliminal messages hidden in art and fashion. We cannot intermingle the clean with the unclean; mix the dark with the light. We are commanded to separate our selves from those who are unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14,17).